From street beggar to high-ranking official

Chapter 82 Testing Methods

The imperial harem had strict rules governing everything from food and clothing to daily necessities, emphasizing hierarchy and social status.

For example, as a seventh-rank eunuch, Lu Li could enjoy more charcoal and ice tributes, and even his food was much better than before. As for ink, since he was a seventh-rank eunuch and needed to handle official documents, he used ordinary pine soot ink.

The same applies to the concubines. Vermilion ink was reserved for the emperor, hence the term "vermilion brush." ​​Black gold ink was only used by the empress and the crown prince. The highest-ranking concubine could use phoenix-patterned purple ink, while the ninth concubine and princesses could use moon palace blue ink.

No wonder Lu Li gave such a hint.

Earlier, Consort Wu's arrogant and spoiled image left a very deep impression on outsiders.

The Imperial Household Department itself sought stability, as evidenced by the fact that it did not delve too deeply into the affairs of the inner palace during its service through two reigns. Its interactions with the inner palace were mainly based on duty-related material exchanges rather than political dependence.

If Consort Wu truly overstepped her bounds, then the fact that a precious inkstone in the Imperial Workshop could be considered a good thing could even be considered a positive outcome.

Because Consort Wu overstepped her bounds in terms of expenses, the Imperial Household Department had a legitimate reason to maintain a sufficient distance from her. Of course, the fault still lay with the Imperial Household Department, not with Consort Wu. It was the Imperial Household Department that sent the wrong grade, not that Consort Wu intentionally overstepped her bounds.

After being prompted by Lu Li to think things through, Consort Wu's face showed a hint of annoyance: "Is this how these eunuchs view me? What do they take me for?!"

She was almost exposed by the lowly maid, which, in Consort Wu's eyes, was the real act of overstepping her bounds!

"Your Majesty!" Lu Li quickly tried to calm Consort Wu's anger: "The opportunity to punish and retaliate against the Imperial Household Department is right in front of us!"

Lu Li held the intact piece of black gold ink in his hands.

Consort Wu immediately understood what Officer Lu meant.

Instead of using it himself, he proactively had Lu Li submit it to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. The Directorate of Imperial Supplies then presented it with black ink. Whether intentional or unintentional, punishment was inevitable.

The two sides reversed in an instant, and the one who was at fault was not Consort Wu, but the Imperial Household Department.

"Good, let's do it that way." Consort Wu's eyes lit up, and the anger in her heart finally dissipated.

"I will obey Your Majesty's orders." Lu Li bowed and breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time he was even more shocked by the methods of the Imperial Household Department.

The Imperial Workshop sent over black gold ink. If Consort Wu did not understand the purpose behind it and used the black gold ink, it would prove that Consort Wu had overstepped her bounds and acted improperly. In that case, the Imperial Workshop could take the blame and extricate itself from the matter. However, if the Consort did not use it or discovered it, then this test would become a handle, which would both punish her and appease Consort Wu's anger.

At the same time, Consort Wu, who was shrewd enough and intelligent enough to understand these things, would no longer choose to win over the Imperial Household Department.

This is how intelligent people communicate; they can reach a consensus without saying a word, and everyone remains on good terms. The only exception is the eunuch responsible for transporting the calligraphy and managing the warehouse who gets injured.

Using the same black ink, one test and one probe, one attack and one defense, two different methods were employed. Lu Li was truly shocked by the cunning of the person behind the scenes.

He didn't know who was behind it, but if Lu Li were to become their enemy, Lu Li felt it would be better to obediently go to the Incense Purification Division himself.

Fortunately, I was protecting Consort Wu, otherwise Consort Wu would have unknowingly fallen into a trap.

After seeing that Lu Li had put away the black ink, Consort Wu asked, "How is that eunuch surnamed Zhou doing?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, after Eunuch Zhou was dismissed from his post by the Directorate of Ceremonial and reassigned to the Palace Guard's Incense Purification Division, I will keep tormenting him as long as Your Majesty gives the order."

"Young Lu is not bad." Consort Wu nodded in satisfaction. "I have only one request."

"Your Majesty, please give your orders."

"No matter what method you use, Xiao Lu, I don't want to hear his name again," Consort Wu said calmly.

"I will obey Your Majesty's orders!" Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Lu bowed and took his leave.

Upon arriving at the side hall of Wendiao Palace, Lu Li summoned Xiao Chuanzi: "Have Xiao Qianzi keep an eye on Jingxiang Division again. Her Majesty doesn't want to hear anything related to Eunuch Zhou anymore."

"Godfather, should we kill him?" Xiao Chuanzi made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Do you know that Eunuch Zhou's life or death has nothing to do with Consort Wu?" said Lu Li.

Xiao Chuanzi was naturally intelligent. Even after Xiao Buzi's death, Xiao Chuanzi remained the most capable adopted son under Eunuch Lu and understood Eunuch Lu's meaning.

Eunuch Zhou couldn't kill him outright; he might have been able to assassinate him, but the best course of action was to completely crush him and confine him to the latrine, where he would spend his days surrounded by the stench of chamber pots.

We neither let it die a quick death nor let it live a good life.

The ruthlessness of Consort Wu, or rather, Eunuch Lu, is evident.

Xiao Chuanzi almost said the wrong thing in his mind. He cursed himself a few times in his heart, then silently recited the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues to calm himself down before going to find Xiao Qianzi.

"Why is it always our house?" Little Qianzi couldn't hold back any longer.

"There's nothing we can do. It's our godfather's order, so as his godsons, we have to be dutiful and fulfill our filial duties," Xiao Chuanzi said gloatingly.

Xiao Qianzi really felt that he had chosen the wrong name. His name contained the character for money, but he ended up working in a poor place like Jingxiangsi where he couldn't earn a single penny.

A few days later, everything was fine.

Lu Li presented the black ink, and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs indeed issued an order. The Directorate of Imperial Supplies also promptly brought over all the eunuchs involved in the matter.

This was not a big deal, after all, it was just a matter of sending the wrong grade, and it did not violate any taboos. If one could use connections with superiors and subordinates, it could even be resolved without any major issues. However, the Director of the Imperial Household Department, Eunuch Wang, ordered that the matter be handled impartially, so he punished the officials with caning, and several eunuchs were demoted and had their salaries reduced.

Several eunuchs who were specifically responsible for transportation and had had considerable interaction with Lu Li were demoted beyond redemption and were transferred elsewhere. What they did there is unknown, but it was probably something like sweeping and doing odd jobs.

Lu Li secretly guessed that the acquaintances he originally wanted to build relationships with were gone, leaving only the gatekeeper of the Imperial Household Department. He guessed that it was that eunuch Lu, whom he had never met, who had secretly sabotaged him.

It's perfectly normal to kick someone when they're down, even if the person in the well isn't Lu Li.

Afterwards, Lu Li inquired about the Jingxiang Division from Xiao Qianzi. Consort Wu did not want to know about Eunuch Zhou's movements anymore, but our family was concerned.

When Xiao Qianzi returned to report, he seemed somewhat apprehensive. Lu Li noticed something was wrong and comforted him, saying, "Xiao Qianzi, what are you afraid of? We're just asking you to keep an eye on things. Just tell us what you find."

Little Qianzi was afraid that his godfather would implicate him in his anger, but he couldn't keep quiet about it, so he had no choice but to stubbornly say, "Godfather, I don't know what kind of sorcery that Eunuch Zhou used, but I specifically asked Eunuch Ye to give me the hardest, most tiring, and most demanding work."

All the work was entrusted to Eunuch Zhou, but the other eunuchs actually vied to help him with the tasks, some even offering money, but they still wouldn't listen!

Lu Li's face was gloomy, and his fingers tapped incessantly on the armrest of the large chair.

Every time his fingertips made a sound, Xiao Qianzi's heart trembled.

"Alright, I understand," Lu Li said, waving his hand.